Services
Insurance Appraisal
Damage and Insurance Loss:
Chicago Piano Service has extensive experience in the evaluation and repair of damaged pianos. It is quite common for pianos to be damaged in delivery, by natural disasters, including large storms, lightning strikes, fire, water, smoke, vandalism and many other adverse conditions. We offer expert cleaning and repair, and provide solutions for pianos which require either complete restoration or disposal, following an adverse event.
If your piano has been damaged, and you would like to consult us regarding solutions please contact Jeffrey Cappelli at 708-771-8388 (office) or 708-772-8282 (cellular).
We provide damage appraisals and insurance estimates. Please call if we may be of service in response to your claim.
Common piano damages include:
- Water from overhead leaks or broken pipes
- Fire, smoke and soot damage
- Moving damages
- Broken piano legs
- Broken pedal lyre or damaged pedals
- Finish and veneer damage from candles or liquids
- Drink spills
- Vandalism
- A drop or fall
- Pet damage
- Mold
“The Steinway B we use in the studio can be a touchy instrument. Jeff and his staff at CPS have done an excellent job in keeping this piano sounding and playing great.“
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How often should I have my piano tuneD:?
A: Twice yearly is generally recommended. Once yearly at a minimum. More often is fine depending on your level of piano proficiency and the ability of your piano to hold pitch.
Q: Why does my piano go out of tune:?
A: Pianos go out of tune for a variety of reasons. Pianos are sensitive to climate change, temperature and humidity levels. When moisture levels increase (such as during summer months) pianos often go sharp in pitch. This is because the strings are stretched from the tuning pin at the front of the piano to a hitch pin on the rigid cast iron plate or frame. Each string passes over a bridge (either treble or bass) and makes its connection to the soundboard via the bridge. When the moisture content of the soundboard increases, the board rises in reaction because it has absorbed ambient moisture from the air. Pitch rises or becomes sharp as the strings are tensioned by the enlarged soundboard, which has a diaphragmatic shape. The opposite is true when moisture levels decrease such as during winter months as moisture leaves the soundboard. Pitch drops (or goes flat) as strings relax due to shrinkage of the soundboard profile.
Pianos also go out of tune from frequent or hard playing as piano hammers impact the strings directly. Piano wire does also stretch for several years due to elasticity of the wire. Over time it becomes more brittle and no longer stretches noticeably.
Pianos also go out of tune when the pinblock (wood, usually a thick maple block under the tuning pins) becomes weak over time and loses the ability to hold a necessary amount of torque at the tuning pins to prevent slipping. A common reason for piano rebuilding is the inability of the piano to stay in tune because of a pinblock failure.
Q: How Do YOu Tune A Piano:?
A: The tools used to tune a piano are a tuning wrench or lever, wedge mutes made of cloth or rubber, and sometimes a few “temperament strips”. Each of 230 + tuning pins are turned or adjusted so that the pitch is altered either higher or lower. In a traditional aural tuning process, a temperament is set at the center region of the keyboard and octaves are outwardly tuned in various sequences to the treble and bass extremes of the entire piano.
Q: Do Seasons, Temperature, or Humidity Affect Tuning?:
A: Absolutely. In fact, just about everything does. Keeping your piano in a stable environment with controlled temperature and humidity, out of direct sunlight or nearness to heat vents, exterior walls, exterior doorways will all contribute to your piano being more pitch-stable in between tuning intervals.
For The Finest In Piano Servicing
Contact Chicago Piano Service, Inc.
Address
1038 Jackson Ave
River Forest, IL 60305
Hours
By Appointment Only